Trust me, I know you can get a lemon in any make or model every now and then. But with a Ford I believe those chances are slim. I know many people who have put tons of miles on triton engines. I have owned Fords for the past thirty years with the following engines: 351, 302, 300, 2.3L cologne,
4.2L V6, 4.6L 2V triton, 3.0L V6 vulcan, and 4.6L 3V triton. I have always found the engines to be good as I have put well :rockerover 100,000 miles on every one. I haven't had a 5.4, but I won't hesitate to buy a truck with it or any of the new 2011 engines.

 

I've got 86,000 miles on my 09 and still running strong even being on 37s now

 

I traded my 2004 F150 4X4 with the 5.4 engine - Never a problem with 160K miles on it when I traded it for this 2010 F150 with same engine. I was always concerned hearing the almost pinging sound all the time when idling but after listening to everyone elses's 5.4 engine doing the same faint noise I finally just concluded it was the 3-valve cylinder thing. It always ran smooth and had lots of power for me. Most all of the 160K on the 2004 f150 was towing my 4200LB Off Road PoPup///

 

I have an 09 5.4L with 80k+ on it. Cam phasers started knocking at 55k. Dealer oil changes it's whole life, so it's not an oil filter issue. I just ignore it.

-Andy